KATSEYE React to ‘WILD’ News About First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200: ‘This Is So Surreal!!”

KATSEYE, the influential all-female K-pop group, experienced an exhilarating moment this week as they achieved their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. The mini-album, WILD, sold an impressive 170,000 equivalent units in the United States during the week ending Aug. 20 (chart dated Aug. 29), according to Luminate. This monumental achievement occurred just days after the group released their co-written single “Animal” from the EP.

In a heartfelt Instagram Story post on Aug. 23, the KATSEYE EYEKONS expressed their awe and gratitude for the overwhelming love received for their new music. The post referenced the Ed Sheeran collaboration, stating, “EYEKONS, this is so surreal!! thank you for showing WILD so much love.”

Laforteza, a founding member of the group, and fellow member Manon Bannerman are currently on hiatus, but the group’s success continues. WILD holds the distinction of being the group’s second top 10-charting release, following their June 2025 EP, Beautiful Chaos, which peaked at No. 4. Moreover, WILD’s first week of sales for the album is the group’s biggest to date, both in equivalent album units and pure album sales (145,000).

The album's success also marks a milestone for all-female groups on the Billboard 200. WILD achieved the largest week-by-equivalent-unit sales for an all-woman group since the chart began ranking by units in December 2014. Additionally, the week's pure album sales for an all-female group was the highest level in over three years, surpassing TWICE’s Ready To Be: 12th Mini Album, which debuted with 146,000 units in March 2023.

The album's first-week success was bolstered by two Billboard Hot 100-charting singles: "Pinky Up," which peaked at No. 28 in April, and the title track “Animal,” which reached No. 24 on the Aug. 8 chart.